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Tanzania to bury school fire dead Tanzania buries school fire dead
(about 4 hours later)
A mass burial is to be held in Tanzania for 12 schoolgirls who died in a fire in their dormitory on Saturday. Hundreds of mourners have attended the mass burial in Tanzania for 12 girls who died in a dormitory fire.
The bodies, burned beyond recognition, will be put in separate graves with DNA markers until the results of the identification tests are known. The BBC's Josephat Mwanzi said the bodies, which were burned beyond recognition, were put in separate graves with numbered markers.
Their names will then be put on the graves in school in Idodi, 460km (285 miles) west of Dar es Salaam. Their names will be added to the graves in school in Idodi, 460km (285 miles) west of Dar es Salaam, when the results of DNA tests are known.
Police say the fire was probably caused by a candle used by one of the students to study at night. The fire is thought to have been caused by a student reading by candlelight.
The candle is thought to have set light to a mosquito net and the flames spread through the dormitory at Idodi Secondary School. Police say it probably set light to a mosquito net and the flames spread through the dormitory at Idodi Secondary School on Saturday night.
Tears
Our reporter says parents and pupils gathered around the graves to see the coffins being lowered.
He said it was heartbreaking to watch and many of the mourners were in tears.
Afterwards, some of the pupils said the girls' dormitories at the school were often locked at night to stop them going out.
Fourteen girls who were seriously injured in the fire are being treated at a hospital in nearby Iringa town.
Nine others are being looked after in Idodi village - and at least two of them attended the funeral.
After the funeral, the pupils were sent home for three weeks so a new dormitory can be built.
Officials had earlier said the dead would be buried in a mass grave because their bodies had been burnt beyond recognition.Officials had earlier said the dead would be buried in a mass grave because their bodies had been burnt beyond recognition.
The authorities say after the funeral, pupils will be asked to return home for three weeks so a new dormitory can be built.
Scores of schoolchildren have died in similar incidents in neighbouring Kenya and Uganda in recent years.Scores of schoolchildren have died in similar incidents in neighbouring Kenya and Uganda in recent years.